Writing has often served as a tool of empowerment for the marginalised - women, racial minorities and political dissidents - throughout history.
But of all the repressed groups, the sexual minorities - gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people - are probably some of the biggest beneficiaries of this tool because of their inherent invisibility.
In the 1980s, East Tide, founded by an activist and author using the name Samshasha, was the first 'same-sex love' publication to circulate surreptitiously in Hong Kong. And, since then, more authors of gay-theme books such as Chou Wah-shan and Anthony Man Ho-fung have surfaced, writing about everything from the fluidity of sexuality to the struggles in coming out.
Their work served as valuable resources of information for those who felt that they had to keep their sexual orientation a deeply held secret from others because they were uncertain of the consequences that revelation might bring to their careers and harmony to their families.
With the blossoming of the internet, writing on sexual minority subject matters has flourished online and sexual minorities seem to have more room to speak out and share thoughts.
On March8, a forum will be held at the Fringe Studio of the Fringe Club in Central as part of the 2008 Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival to discuss gay culture and what the label implies.